Know All About Basant Panchami
Basant Panchami is also called Shree Panchami, Saraswati Puja or the Basant festival of kites. It is the festival of Hindus as well as Sikhs. It is celebrated on the fifth day of the month of Magh. This year Basant Panchami will be celebrated on 29th January 2020.
This festival is also celebrated in the states of Odisha, Haryana, Tripura and West Bengal. This festival is also called by the name Vasant Panchami. This festival signifies the end of winter and the beginning of Spring. The term ‘Vasant’ means spring and ‘Panchami’ means the fifth day of the month of Magh.
Image Source: Google
On the day of Basant Panchami, Goddess Saraswati is worshipped by the Hindus. Goddess Saraswati is the goddess of knowledge, wisdom, music, art and culture.
According to mythology, Lord Brahma had created the earth and humans but then he found the atmosphere to be very quiet. So, he sprinkled on some water in the air and he created Goddess Saraswati. Saraswati then filled the whole earth with wonderful music and blessed the earth.
There is another story associated with Basant Panchami. The poet Kalidasa had married the beautiful princess who sent him out of the palace when she found out that he was foolish.
Thus, Kalidasa feeling sad, he tried to kill himself. At that moment, Saraswati came out of the waters and asked him to bathe in the river. When he took bath in the river, he became a wise person and he started writing poetry.
The yellow colour is greatly associated with Basant Panchami. This is because the mustard fields are yellow in colour which is a common phenomenon in Punjab and Haryana at this time of the year.
People dress in bright yellow colours and they cook tasty food to mark the starting of spring. A traditional dish prepared for this festival is meethe chawal or sweetened rice, which is yellow in colour. It is flavoured with saffron.
Image Source: Google
On this day the people of Punjab and Haryana celebrate it by flying kites. The flying of kites means freedom and joy.
Another belief associated with this festival is the initiation of studies in the young children. They begin to learn on this day. Even in schools, they start classes for young kids in the month of March. Books and other study materials are donated to the poor people on this day.
This festival is celebrated to commemorate the God of love, Kamadev. In the olden days, dancers and other people danced to the music beats of dhol. The people in those days used to wear new clothes and participated in celebrations. A grand feast is prepared in the honour of the God Kamadev. It is considered auspicious to host marriages during thus festival.
The sweets and dishes that are prepared during this festival are usually yellow and saffron in colour.
Since the goddess Saraswati signifies knowledge and wisdom, this day is celebrated in educational institutions as well. Statues of the Goddess Saraswati are dressed in yellow coloured sari and jewellery. Prayers are offered and the goddess is worshipped. Musical events are organized on this day. In West Bengal, this function is called ‘Sri Panchami’. People carry colorful idols of Saraswati and immerse it in the holy waters of Ganga.
This festival is also celebrated in Nepal. The temples of Goddess Saraswati are decorated and a special feast is prepared to honour the Goddess.
Basant Panchami is also called Shree Panchami, Saraswati Puja or the Basant festival of Kites. It is the festival of Hindus as well as Sikhs. It is celebrated on the fifth day of the month of Magh. This year Basant Panchami will be celebrated on 29th January 2020.
This festival is also celebrated in the states of Odisha, Haryana, Tripura and West Bengal. This festival is also called by the name Vasant Panchami. This festival signifies the end of winter and the beginning of Spring. The term ‘Vasant’ means spring and ‘Panchami’ means the fifth day of the month of Magh.
Image Source: Google
On the day of Basant Panchami, Goddess Saraswati is worshipped by the Hindus. Goddess Saraswati is the goddess of knowledge, wisdom, music, art and culture.
According to mythology, Lord Brahma had created the earth and humans but then he found the atmosphere to be very quiet. So, he sprinkled on some water in the air and he created Goddess Saraswati. Saraswati then filled the whole earth with wonderful music and blessed the earth.
There is another story associated with Basant Panchami. The poet Kalidasa had married the beautiful princess who sent him out of the palace when she found out that he was foolish.
Thus, Kalidasa feeling sad, he tried to kill himself. At that moment, Saraswati came out of the waters and asked him to bathe in the river. When he took bath in the river, he became a wise person and he started writing poetry.
The yellow colour is greatly associated with Basant Panchami. This is because the mustard fields are yellow in colour which is a common phenomenon in Punjab and Haryana at this time of the year.
People dress in bright yellow colours and they cook tasty food to mark the starting of spring. A traditional dish prepared for this festival is meethe chawal or sweetened rice, which is yellow in colour. It is flavoured with saffron.
Image Source: Google
On this day the people of Punjab and Haryana celebrate it by flying kites. The flying of kites means freedom and joy.
Another belief associated with this festival is the initiation of studies in the young children. They begin to learn on this day. Even in schools, they start classes for young kids in the month of March. Books and other study materials are donated to the poor people on this day.
This festival is celebrated to commemorate the God of love, Kamadev. In the olden days, dancers and other people danced to the music beats of dhol. The people in those days used to wear new clothes and participated in celebrations. A grand feast is prepared in the honour of the God Kamadev. It is considered auspicious to host marriages during thus festival.
The sweets and dishes that are prepared during this festival are usually yellow and saffron in colour.
Since the goddess Saraswati signifies knowledge and wisdom, this day is celebrated in educational institutions as well. Statues of the Goddess Saraswati are dressed in yellow coloured sari and jewellery. Prayers are offered and the goddess is worshipped. Musical events are organized on this day. In West Bengal, this function is called ‘Sri Panchami’. People carry colorful idols of Saraswati and immerse it in the holy waters of Ganga.
This festival is also celebrated in Nepal. The temples of Goddess Saraswati are decorated and a special feast is prepared to honour the Goddess.
